Art therapy helps chronic patients find brighter side of life

BENGALURU: Ismile, a student of the Goripalya Government School, underwent a liver transplant at the age of 14, four years ago. Shortly after, a stent was inserted into his body because of a narrow bile tube. Last month, he checked in for treatment again as the stent started making him uneasy.

Ismile’s condition is clearly improving now. “He participated in an art session at the hospital two weeks ago. Since then, he has only been drawing and painting whatever catches his imagination. It makes him forget his sickness,” said his mother Khadira Bi.

Art therapy, usually associated with mental health treatment, is now helping people, especially children, suffering from liver diseases, chronic paediatric illness and cancer. The psycho-social approach is meant to help families and patients cope with hospitalisation and provide support throughout the treatment.


“(Art) sessions give insights into a spectrum of psychological feelings.

For instance, children undergoing treatment tend to use darker colours or paint gloomier themes while those who have recovered use brighter shades,” said Dr Sonal Asthana, a multi-organ transplant surgeon at Aster Hospitals, whose team treated Ismile. They aim to track outcomes of art sessions over a period of time and map the impact.

Shrawanth R, a student of Narayana PU College in CV Raman Nagar, has spent most of his 17 years in hospitals. His immunity deficiency requires him to be on intravenous fluids once every 15-20 days, disrupting normal routine.

“Participating in art workshops helps me make new friends,” he said.

Artists work with doctors to provide individual attention and ensure that those with low immunity levels do not get infected. “Creating something out of nothing and translating their thoughts on to paper boosts a patient’s selfconfidence. Guided art sessions also improve discipline among children and refine their motor skills,” said artist Naozar Daruwalla, who has conducted such sessions at childcare agencies like Christel House, apart from in hospitals.

Sandhya Sharad of the Samiksha Foundation, who provides weekly art therapy sessions to about 35 children suffering from cancer, calls it a form of counselling that helps patients visualise their fear and fight it. “It is time more hospitals recognised the need to have a holistic non-medical support centre. This form of creative visualisation brings a new perspective on tackling illness.”

Dr KB Linge Gowda, director, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, said art therapy has been adopted in a big way in the West. “Hospitals here usually face a fund crunch and so it is advisable to collaborate with nonprofits and voluntary organisations to create infrastructure.”